U.S. Virgin Islands faces DOJ lawsuit over semiautomatic gun ban

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed an amended complaint against the U.S. Virgin Islands regarding firearm regulations enacted in June 2026. The litigation targets Act No. 9113, known as the ‘2026 Second Amendment Rights and Public Safety Act,’ which was signed by Governor Albert Bryan Jr.

The DOJ’s complaint alleges that the new legislation imposes restrictions that deprive law-abiding gun owners of their Second Amendment rights. Specific provisions challenged include bans on the receipt, transfer, and sale of modern semiautomatic firearms and standard-capacity magazines.

Additional contested regulations include bans on suppressors, restrictions on public demonstration carry, long gun carry bans, gun storage laws, and gun registration requirements. The DOJ’s action follows previous litigation against the Virgin Islands Police Department concerning ‘unreasonable conditions’ and a ‘good cause’ standard for permits that the Supreme Court invalidated in the 2022 Bruen decision.